Love Noughts and Crosses? Read these books
Prepare to be thrilled!
Last updated 24th Mar 2020
Noughts and Crosses is the hit BBC drama based on the novel by Malorie Blackman of the same name. A tale of mystery, love and danger, it's captivated a nation both in print and on screen. If you're already a fan and you're looking for your next read, try one of these novels.
Books like Noughts and Crosses
Bridge 108 by Anne Charnock
Set in the late twenty-first century, this dystopian novel shows how climate change has ransacked humanity. When Caleb is separated from his mother, he finds himself trafficked and enslaved. Ever hopeful, Caleb refuses to give up and he begins his journey to escape. Told from multiple points of view, Bridge 108 is terrifying, emotional and hopeful all in one.
The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
A really dark and captivating read, the story is of Celie who is born into poverty and segregation, her life blighted by abuse and torture. Broken, Celie is resigned to the hand she's been given until she meets magic-maker Shug Avery who has taken charge of her own destiny and harnessed the powers of her spirit. Celie soon learns how to free herself from her horrific past by discovering the power and joy of her very own spirit. A classic for a reason.
Sweetfreak by Sophie McKenzie
Best selling author Sophie McKenzie presents us with Sweetfreak, a story of two best friends who have their friendship turned upside down when one of them is horrifically trolled online by someone called Sweetfreak. When Amelia accuses Carey of being the troll, Carey is desperate to expose the real Sweetfreak before it's too late.
Silver by Chris Hammer
Silver is the story of journalist Martin who returns to Port Silver with his wife Mandy, eager for a fresh start. However, Martin's childhood friend is murdered and Mandy is the main suspect. Martin is desperate to reveal the truth but with the media captivated by a story of sex, drugs, celebrity, religion and murder and a dark past, it's not going to be so easy. Utterly gripping, Silver is nothing short of addictive.
The fault in our stars by John Green
If you enjoy the love and relationship side of Noughts and Crosses, John Green's iconic book should be on your to-read list if you've not devoured it already. This raw, dynamic and life-affirming tale tells the story of terminally ill Hazel. When Hazel meets Augustus, her life story is about to be rewritten, her final chapter not death but love.
The long call by Ann Cleeves
Detective Matthew Venn is at his father's funeral. Matthew Venn lost all his family when he turned his back on the strict evangelical church he grew up in. Matthew returns to North Devon not to mourn his father but to find the killer of a man found stabbed to death on the beach, a man with a distinctive albatross tattoo. Finding the killer reveals just how many dark secrets are lurking in the idyllic place Matthew once called home. Gripping from beginning to end, this thriller has it all.
The unit by Ninni Holmqvist
In a dystopian world, men and women deemed economically flawed are sent to live in a community called the unit. The unit is filled with fine art, gourmet food, stunning gardens and people want for nothing. But paradise comes with a catch, the residents of the unit must donate their organs one by one. Dorrit arrives at the unit and is resigned to her fate, until she falls in love and throws everything into doubt. Spine-chilling, through provoking and wonderfully haunting, the unit is a book like no other.